VTLAR Sends Students to Raleigh-Durham, NC

In February, VTLAR had the exciting opportunity to take our fourth-year and master’s students on an enriching field trip to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Over the course of three action-packed days, our students explored a variety of firms, engaged with industry professionals, and discovered the vibrant local culture of the Research Triangle area.

During their trip, students enjoyed a comprehensive exploration of the region, starting with a tour of Downtown Durham led by Surface 678. They then visited Duke University's campus with Mark Hough and had an insightful office visit at Design Workshop. In Downtown Raleigh, they toured with Site Collaborative and also visited their office. The itinerary included a visit to the NC Museum of Art, a tour of Downtown Cary Park, and an engaging alumni reception at the McKim & Creed office. The trip concluded with a fascinating exploration of the Museum of Life and Science to see what different paths Landscape Architects can pursue.

Sites toured included the American Tobacco Campus, the Durham Performing Arts Center, Durham County Human Services Complex, Duke University Water Reclamation Pond, Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Duke University Crown Commons, Duke Medicine Pavilion, Gateway Plaza, Longleaf Hotel, Moore Square, Warehouse District, Raleigh Union Station, Pullen Park, John Chavis Memorial Park, Dorethea Dix Park, Goodnight Museum Park, NC Museum of Art Stormwater Pond, Downtown Cary Park, and the Museum of Life and Science grounds. 

When asked about what this trip meant to the students, they stated that it was a ‘transformative experience,’ and it was ‘eye-opening to the possibilities of the design world.’ This trip provided our students with real-world exposure, networking opportunities, enhanced learning moments, inspiration and motivation, cultural and contextual understanding, and further skills development. This contributed to a holistic and impactful educational experience that students will carry forth with them into their future careers. Trips such as these are very important to the learning and development of VTLAR students, and we are planning to make these trips a more regular part of the curriculum.

This trip was made possible by the School of Design and generous supporters including Surface 678, Mark Hough of Duke University, Design Workshop, Site Collaborative, McKim & Creed, and the NC Museum of Life and Science. Thank you for making this awesome trip possible and cost-free to our students!